Panel: No Outsiders In Pool Tavares To Recommend County Forbid Rezoning

March 31, 1988|By Sandy Coleman of The Sentinel Staff

TAVARES — Planning and zoning commission members are recommending that county commissioners deny a rezoning request that would open the Imperial Terrace West pool to public use.

By a unanimous vote met by crowd applause, the commission agreed that changing the land use from residential mobile home to public facility would be too commercial for the park of 230 homes.

Tavares Administrator Tony Otte, Tavares Councilman Richard Swartz and about 200 residents of Imperial Terrace West, Imperial Terrace East and other mobile home parks showed up at the Wednesday meeting.

Property owner Lawrence Benson, who owns the marina, clubhouse and pool at Imperial Terrace West, originally requested that all three facilities be opened to public use. However, he altered his plans to include only the use of the pool after discovering he could not meet county parking requirements for the marina.

Benson requested the land-use change so he could sell memberships to the park's pool to non-residents. He said he felt compelled to offer outside memberships because not enough park residents are supporting the pool.

Although Benson is seeking a zoning change to allow outside memberships, he said he has been selling them for six years under the assumption that it was okay.

Jerry Muras, president of the homeowners association, told the commission residents are concerned that traffic would increase on roads already too narrow, crime would increase, and the land use would be inappropriate.

He also said the pool is not large enough to handle the outsiders.

''If memberships are sold to the public, it won't be a swimming pool, it will be a standing pool.''

Similar concerns about traffic and inappropriate land use persuaded Tavares council members and planning board members to send their ''strongest objections'' to the request to county officials.

Councilman Swartz said he objects to the change because of the headaches and problems that come when commercial and residential uses are tied so closely.

Although the land is in the county, Tavares officials can make recommendations to the county because of an interlocal agreement on joint planning in areas adjacent to the city.

Attorney Cecelia Bonifay, Benson's representative, said the 20-by-40-foot pool has had non-residents as members for six years without creating the problems residents fear.

''My biggest concern is that we don't begin developing a regulation process to economically deprive people of their livelihood,'' Bonifay said. ''If this man wants to be able to use his property in an economical way he has to open up membership.''

Several people who don't live in Imperial Terrace West supported opening the indoor heated pool because it provides therapy for many elderly residents. County commissioners will make the final decision on the rezoning request at their April 12 meeting at 2 p.m.